BRITISH scientists have unveiled a robot soldier that can march, run and aim a weapon and it is now ready to help troops on the battlefield.

Come with me if you want to live: Robot soldier looks like Terminator[PA]

Dazzlingly high-tech Porton Man looks like the indestructible android played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the hit Terminator movies. And thanks to its carbon-composite body parts – built using cutting-edge Formula One technology – it is far tougher than the puny humans it is designed to protect.

The lightweight 14kg robot mannequin is used to test the next generation of chemical and biological protective suits for the UK's armed forces. Its work is essential to trial the suits designed to protect UK personnel from chemical and biological attacks such as nerve agents like Sarin.

Porton Man, named after the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in Porton Down, Wiltshire, can mimic the range of movements of a regular soldier during combat. It was built by Buckingham-based company i-bodi Technology Ltd. And the sensors covering its body allow boffins to carry out stress tests in a range of combat scenarios.

Jaime Cummins, of Dstl's Chemical and Biological Physical Protection group, said: “Significant advances in animatronics, material design and sensing technologies have all been incorporated into this new Porton Man mannequin.

“As a result, we will be able to assess and characterise protective clothing in ways which were not previously possibly. The new mannequin is hoped to help work on producing a new, lighter-weight protective suit for the future.”

Mr Cummins added: “It's a better, more realistic test system, and we are now in a better position and better place to design and develop the next generation of chemical and biological protective suit equipment.”

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This technology, designed by a British company, is enabling the UK to lead the way in this important testing.

Philip Dunne, Minister for defence equipment, support and technology

In a £1.1 million project, the new Porton Man was made by i-bodi Technology, which has designed and made mannequins before, but draws on experience of making animatronics and robotics for films and television.

Chief executive Jez Gibson-Harris said they were tasked with producing a lightweight robotic mannequin based on data collected from 2,500 soldiers, that was easy to handle, had a wide range of movement.

He said: “Of course there were a number of challenges associated with this and one way we looked to tackle these challenges was through the use of Formula One technology. Using the same concepts as those used in racing cars, we were able to produce very light but highly durable carbon composite body parts for the mannequin.”

Minister for defence equipment, support and technology Philip Dunne said: “This technology, designed by a British company, is enabling the UK to lead the way in this important testing.

“Increased investment in science and technology by the Ministry of Defence is not only enabling battle-winning and lifesaving equipment to be developed but also helping innovative companies like i-bodi Technology to develop cutting edge capability.”